Yang Hong (Shu Han)

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"Hanzhong is at the Yi province's throat, It is of the utmost importance between our survival and destruction. Without Hanzhong then there would be no state left to defend and this disaster is right at the doors of our houses. At this moment, all should do their best. Men should fight the enemy and women should transport the provision. Why having any restraint about sending more troops? "

Zhuge Liang agreed with Yang Hong's opinion. [3]

At the same moment, the Administrator of Shu Commandery (蜀郡太守), Fa Zheng was helping Liu Bei in the north. Zhuge Liang sends a memorial to have Yang Hong take the vacant position, he quickly adapted and the many problems were soon all resolved therefore he was given the formal appointment. Soon he was relocated to another office in Yi province. [4]

After Liu Bei proclaimed himself emperor, he launched a campaign against Wu but was unsuccessful and retreated to Yongan. At this time, the Administrator of Hanjia Huang Yuan (黃元) had a bad relationship with Zhuge Liang and fearing that after Liu Bei's death would have problems led a rebellion in his commandery, he burned down the city of Linqiong. During this Zhuge Liang had left to examine the condition of Liu Bei therefore Chengdu was weak and badly defended, Huang Yuan was all the more excessive and fearless in his attitude. Yang Hong at once informed Liu Chan to dispatch their own personal troops along with the Generals Chen Hu (陳曶) and Zheng Chuo (鄭綽) to suppress Huang Yuan's rebellion. [5]

Everyone was afraid that if Huang Yuan failed to conquer Chengdu, he would try to occupy Hanzhong from Yuexi. However, Yang Hong said:

"Huang Yuan always had the temperament of a violent and brutal man and had no virtue or faith in others, how could he accomplish such a task? All he can hope for is going east to our Lord, praying that he is safe and calm, so he can submit to him and receive death however if he is doubtful then he will flee to Wu and beg for his life. Just order Chen Hu and Zheng Chuo to lead their men at the enter of Nan'an and wait for his arrival." [6]

And indeed, Yang Hong's prediction was true and Huang Yuan was taken alive. After this, he was enfeoffed as a Secondary Marquis (關內侯), resumed his occupation as Administrator of Shu Commandery and given the rank of General of Loyalty and Integrity (越騎校尉) and later became Lieutenant Cavalry of Yueqi (越騎校尉). [7]

Service under Liu Shan

In 227, Zhuge Liang moved to the north and make his headquarters in Hanzhong, wanted to employ Zhang Yi in his office as his Chief Clerk (長史) and asked Yang Hong's opinion about this. Yang Hong told him:

"Zhang Yi is by nature a smart and insightful man with skill and earnestness in governorship. His sole talent is enough for this task, however one should fear that he wouldn't be impartial in this specific appointment. I would rather advise to have Xiang Lang, by nature he is honest and sincere. Zhang Yi would serve below him and develop his own potential. In that case, both of them would work at their best." [8]

When young, Yang Hong and Zhang Yi were close friend however when Zhang Yi was in exile in Wu and Yang Hong temporarily took charge of his commandery. He didn't give special treatment to his son Zhang Yu, who was a minor official when he committed a small offence. When Zhang Yi came back to Shu, he heard about this and was resentful of Yang Hong, from this moment their relation deteriorated. [9]

Later, when Yang Hong saw that Zhuge Liang was raising troops. He personally visited Zhang Yi and told him what he advised Zhuge Liang about him. Zhang Yi answered that Zhuge Liang already appointed him and that he couldn't prevail this. People were thinking that Yang Hong's intention was to be Chief Clerk at the place of Zhang Yi or that knowing Zhang Yi was resentful of him, Yang Hong didn't want for him to occupy a critical position and manage important matters. However when in position, Zhang Yi had conflict with the Colonel (校尉) Chen Shu (岑述) until their relation reached hatred and anger. Zhuge Liang knew about this and send a letter to Zhang Yi where he reprimand him for not putting the interest of the State before his personal relation. Because of this event, the people understood that Yang Hong was truthful in his statement. [10]

Appraisal

When Yang Hong was young, he didn't enjoy scholarship, but he was a faithful and altruistic man. He was concerned about the wellbeing of others as if they were his own family and was known to treat his stepmother with utmost filial piety. He died while serving in office in 228. At first, Yang Hong served under Li Yan but due to personal opinions, he retired however while Li Yan was still serving as Administrator of Qianwei, Yang Hong had been already relocated as Administrator of Shu Commandery. At this time, he was helped by He Zhi, who served under him as a personal Aide Officer. He Zhi was talented, cunning, made numerous accomplishments and was soon promoted to the role of Prefect. Several years later, he was promoted again to be the Administrator of Guanghan. At the same time, Yang Hong was still serving as the Administrator of Shu Commandery. Because of this, all the people in the west admired Zhuge Liang for his ability to thoroughly employ the men of great talent. [11]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 Yang Hong's biography in the Sanguozhi stated that he died in the 6th year of the Jianxing era (223-237) in Liu Shan's reign. (... 六年卒官。)
  2. ↑ (楊洪字季休，犍為武陽人也。劉璋時歷部諸郡。先主定蜀，太守李嚴命為功曹。嚴欲徙郡治舍，洪固諫不聽，遂辭功曹，請退。嚴欲薦洪於州，為蜀部從事。) Sanguozhi vol. 41.
  3. ↑ (先主爭漢中，急書發兵，軍師將軍諸葛亮以問洪，洪曰：「漢中則益州咽喉，存亡之機會，若無漢中則無蜀矣，此家門之禍也。方今之事，男子當戰，女子當運，發兵何疑？」) Sanguozhi vol. 41.
  4. ↑ (時蜀郡太守法正從先主北行，亮於是表洪領蜀郡太守，眾事皆辦，遂使即真。頃之，轉為益州治中從事。) Sanguozhi vol. 41.
  5. ↑ (先主既稱尊號，征吳不克，還住永安。漢嘉太守黃元素為諸葛亮所不善，聞先主疾病，懼有後患，舉郡反，燒臨邛城。時亮東行省疾，成都單虛，是以元益無所憚。洪即啟太子，遣其親兵，使將軍陳曶、鄭綽討元。) Sanguozhi vol. 41.
  6. ↑ (眾議以為元若不能圍成都，當由越嶲據南中，洪曰：「元素性凶暴，無他恩信，何能辦此？不過乘水東下，冀主上平安，面縛歸死；如其有異，奔吳求活耳。敕曶、綽但於南安峽口遮即便得矣。」) Sanguozhi vol. 41.
  7. ↑ (曶、綽承洪言，果生獲元。洪建興元年賜爵關內侯，復為蜀郡太守、忠節將軍，後為越騎校尉，領郡如故。) Sanguozhi vol. 41.
  8. ↑ (五年，丞相亮北住漢中，欲用張裔為留府長史，問洪何如？洪對曰：「裔天姿明察，長於治劇，才誠堪之，然性不公平，恐不可專任，不如留向朗。朗情偽差少，裔隨從目下，效其器能，於事兩善。」) Sanguozhi vol. 41.
  9. ↑ (初，裔少與洪親善。裔流放在吳，洪臨裔郡，裔子郁給郡吏，微過受罰，不特原假。裔後還聞之，深以為恨，與洪情好有損。) Sanguozhi vol. 41.
  10. ↑ (及洪見亮出，至裔許，具說所言。裔答洪曰：「公留我了矣，明府不能止。」時人或疑洪意自欲作長史，或疑洪知裔自嫌，不願裔處要職，典後事也。後裔與司鹽校尉岑述不和，至于忿恨。亮與裔書曰：「君昔在（柏）〔陌〕下，營壞，吾之用心，食不知味；後流迸南海，相為悲歎，寢不安席；及其來還，委付大任，同獎王室，自以為與君古之石交也。石交之道，舉讎以相益，割骨肉以相明，猶不相謝也，況吾但委意於元儉，而君不能忍邪？」論者由是明洪無私。) Sanguozhi vol. 41.
  11. ↑ (洪少不好學問，而忠清款亮，憂公如家，事繼母至孝。六年卒官。始洪為李嚴功曹，嚴未（至）〔去〕至犍為而洪已為蜀郡。洪迎門下書佐何祗，有才策功幹，舉郡吏，數年為廣漢太守，時洪亦尚在蜀郡。是以西土咸服諸葛亮能盡時人之器用也。) Sanguozhi vol. 41.
Yang Hong
楊洪
Yang Hong 2016 Han Zhao Lie Miao.jpg
Statue of Yang Hong in a temple in Chengdu, Sichuan
Officer of Merit (功曹)
In office
214 (214)–? (?)
Prominent people of Shu Han
Emperors
Empresses
Princes and royal figures
Regents
Civil officers
Military officers
Other notable women
Other notable figures
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